Multi-criteria evaluation model to face phytosanitary emergencies: the case of citrus fruits farming in Italy

In the last decade, citrus fruits farming, at the international level, revealed an upward trend changing the traditionalscenarios of the off er, with the exchange of products coming from all areas of the world, thanks to the progressiveabrogation of fare barriers. Th e material exchange is causing spreading of diseases that have caused a severe damage, suchas the epidemics and culture extinctions with a high economic, health, environmental and social impact. In such a context,the defi nition of possible methods to face the emergencies is absolutely necessary. Th is research suggests the adoption ofan evaluation model for phytosanitary emergencies (Citrus Tristeza Virus – CTV), a model that is sustainable from theeconomic, social, biotic and phytosanitary perspective. It is based on an integrated model that considers the application ofa participatory planning technique and of an evaluation method included among the tools of the Social Multi-Criteria Evaluation(SMCE). Th e results highlighted that the hypothesis 1 “cohabitation with the Citrus Tristeza virus” is the predominanthypothesis, followed at short distance by the hypothesis 2 ”total eradication and re-implantation”, while the hypothesis3 “abandonment or extirpation” gained a marginal meaning. It was possible to assert that the hypothesis 1 was the one thatpresented the highest sustainability.